UFC 120 Preview: The Main Card

John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle

The title of “Next Great British Fighter” appears to be on the verge of being handed to Hathaway, a little more than four months removed from his consummate thrashing of Diego Sanchez. For the public to buy into Hathaway, he first needs to prove that he can not only beat Pyle but meet the same standard he set in his star-making turn against Sanchez.

That will not be an easy move to make since Pyle has proven himself a versatile and game fighter. Best know for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu acumen, the Xtreme Couture-trained welterweight has established himself as one of the most fundamentally sound grapplers in the 170-pound division. While his commitment to the sport has been an issue in the past, the strides Pyle has made with his overall game of late suggest he has put those days behind him.

Pyle has some serious stylistic issues to navigate here, namely the unexpected hurdle that Hathaway’s wrestling has become. In seeming defiance of the number one stereotype against British fighters, “The Hitman” showed his skills early in his UFC run when he diffused Rick Story’s explosive wrestling game.

Pyle has proven a slick guard player, but working off one’s back against an opponent with demoralizing ground-and-pound cannot be a winning strategy. A stand-up bout does not play in Pyle’s favor, either, as Hathaway has the heavier punches and looks to be a bit more advanced in terms of his defense. The latter seems especially important, as Pyle has a tendency to get chin-checked in his fights, and Hathaway beat the fight out of Sanchez after hurting him in the first round.

It was not that long ago when Pyle was swarmed by Jake Ellenberger. Consider Hathaway an enhanced version of Ellenberger. Good as Pyle may be, he remains limited by his suspect wrestling and striking defense, both of which make him an ideal showcase opponent for London Shootfighters’ prized prospect. Expect Pyle to keep it competitive, until Hathaway pounds out a late TKO win.